How this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Not Guilty Verdict
January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most fatal – and consequential – occasions during thirty years of conflict in the region.
Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the buildings and etched in collective memory.
A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Derry.
The march was opposing the practice of internment – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been put in place following multiple years of violence.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly republican population.
A specific visual became especially iconic.
Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, waving a blood-stained cloth in his effort to shield a assembly carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.
News camera operators captured considerable film on the day.
Historical records includes Father Daly explaining to a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the gunfire.
This account of events was rejected by the original examination.
The Widgery Tribunal concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.
Throughout the peace process, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the individuals had been armed.
The then head of state, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring killings were "without justification and inexcusable."
Law enforcement began to examine the events.
One former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, was charged for homicide.
Indictments were filed over the deaths of the first individual, 22, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
The accused was also accused of trying to kill several people, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.
There is a legal order protecting the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have maintained is required because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.
That claim was dismissed in the final report.
Information from the investigation could not be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the accused was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.
He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to answer "innocent" when the accusations were put to him.
Family members of the victims on the incident travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.
One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be difficult.
"I can see everything in my recollection," John said, as we examined the key areas mentioned in the case – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.
"It even takes me back to where I was that day.
"I participated in moving Michael and lay him in the vehicle.
"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.
"Notwithstanding having to go through the process – it's still worthwhile for me."